U.S. patent application number 11/446899 was filed with the patent office on 2007-09-27 for artificial candle.
This patent application is currently assigned to The Lamson & Sessions Co.. Invention is credited to Roger Donn Bentley, Bradford Brian Jensen, Kim Irwin McCavit.
Application Number | 20070223216 11/446899 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37712146 |
Filed Date | 2007-09-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070223216 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Jensen; Bradford Brian ; et
al. |
September 27, 2007 |
Artificial candle
Abstract
An artificial candle includes a tube that simulates a wax candle
and has top and bottom ends. A post extends upward from the top
end. A nub, mounted on the post, is diametrically larger than the
post. A flame piece simulating a candle flame has a bore configured
to receive the nub as the piece is slid down over the post by a
user. The bore has a diametrically enlarged section that is axially
and radially the same size as the nub to provide the flame piece
being slid down over the post with a tactile detent position, and
enabling the piece to be slid downward beyond the detent
position.
Inventors: |
Jensen; Bradford Brian; (St.
Joseph, MI) ; Bentley; Roger Donn; (Coloma, MI)
; McCavit; Kim Irwin; (Saint Joseph, MI) |
Correspondence
Address: |
PATENT GROUP 2N;JONES DAY
NORTH POINT, 901 LAKESIDE AVENUE
CLEVELAND
OH
44114
US
|
Assignee: |
The Lamson & Sessions
Co.
|
Family ID: |
37712146 |
Appl. No.: |
11/446899 |
Filed: |
June 5, 2006 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60786125 |
Mar 27, 2006 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
362/161 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F21S 9/02 20130101; F21V
3/00 20130101; F21V 17/06 20130101; F21S 6/001 20130101; F21Y
2115/10 20160801; F21W 2121/00 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
362/161 |
International
Class: |
F21V 35/00 20060101
F21V035/00 |
Claims
1. An artificial candle comprising: a tube simulating a candle and
having top and bottom ends; a post extending upward from the top
end; a nub mounted on the post and diametrically larger than the
post; and a flame piece simulating a candle flame and having a bore
configured to receive the nub as the piece is slid down over the
post by a user, the bore having a diametrically enlarged section
that is sized with respect to the nub to provide the flame piece
being slid down over the post with a tactile detent position, yet
enabling the piece to be slid downward beyond the detent
position.
2. The candle of claim 1 wherein the flame piece can be slid
downward beyond the detent position into contact with the tube.
3. The candle of claim 1 further comprising an electric lamp
supported by the post so as to be encased by the flame piece when
the flame piece is in the detent position.
4. The candle of claim 3 wherein the lamp is located in the
nub.
5. An artificial candle comprising: a tube simulating a candle and
having top and bottom ends; a post extending upward from the top
end; a nub mounted on the post and diametrically larger than the
post; and a flame piece simulating a candle flame and having a bore
configured to receive the nub as the piece is slid down over the
post by a user, the bore having a lower section diametrically
smaller than the nub and an upper section diametrically larger than
the lower section, configured for the nub to pass through the lower
bore section and into the upper bore section.
6. The candle of claim 5 wherein the upper bore section is axially
about the same size as the nub to provide the flame piece with a
detent position that is spaced above the tube.
7. The candle of claim 5 wherein the upper bore section is axially
longer than the nub, for the nub to remain in the upper bore
section as the flame piece is moved downward toward and into
contact with the tube.
8. The candle of claim 5 further comprising an electric lamp
supported by the post so as to be encased by the flame piece when
the bore receives the post.
9. The candle of claim 8 wherein the lamp is located in the
nub.
10. An artificial candle apparatus comprising: a tube simulating a
candle and having top and bottom ends; a post extending upward from
the top end; a lamp mounted on the post; and flame pieces
simulating a candle flame, configured to be interchangeably mounted
over the lamp by a user, and differing from each other in size,
shape and/or color.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the tube, the post, the lamp,
and the flame pieces are packaged in a merchandise package.
12. A method for use with the apparatus of claim 10, comprising
offering the tube, the post, the lamp and the flame pieces, all
packaged together, for sale to a store customer.
13. The candle of claim 1 wherein the enlarged section is axially
the same size as the nub.
14. The candle of claim 1 wherein the enlarged section is radially
the same size as the nub.
15. An artificial candle comprising: a tube simulating a candle and
having top and bottom ends; a post structure extending upward from
the top end; and a flame piece simulating a candle flame,
configured to be slid down over the post structure into a tactile
detent position and further able to be slid down beyond the detent
position.
16. The candle of claim 15 wherein the post structure includes a
post extending upward from the top end of the tube and a nub
mounted on the post, and the flame piece includes a bore for
receiving the nub, the bore having a diametrically enlarged section
that is sized with respect to the nub to provide the detent
position.
17. The candle of claim 15 further comprising an electric lamp
supported by the post structure so as to be encased by the flame
piece when the flame piece is in the detent position.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 60/786,125, filed Mar. 27, 2006.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] This application relates to electric artificial candles.
BACKGROUND
[0003] An artificial candle has a tube simulating a candle and an
electric lamp simulating a candle flame.
SUMMARY
[0004] An artificial candle includes a tube that simulates a wax
candle and has top and bottom ends. A post extends upward from the
top end. A nub, mounted on the post, is diametrically larger than
the post. A flame piece simulating a candle flame has a bore
configured to receive the post as the piece is slid down over the
post by a user. The bore has a diametrically enlarged section that
is axially and radially the same size as the nub to provide the
flame piece being slid down over the post with a tactile detent
position, and enabling the piece to be slid downward beyond the
detent position.
[0005] Preferably, the flame piece can be slid downward beyond the
detent position into contact with the tube. An electric lamp is
supported by the post so as to be encased by the flame piece when
the flame piece is in the detent position. The lamp is located in
the nub.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0006] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an artificial candle and a
candleholder;
[0007] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the candle, including a flame
piece mounted on a post;
[0008] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the flame piece separated from
the post;
[0009] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the flame piece in one mounted
position;
[0010] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the flame piece in another
mounted position;
[0011] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a second flame piece in one
mounted position; and
[0012] FIG. 7 is a sectional view of the second flame piece in
another mounted position.
DESCRIPTION
[0013] The apparatus shown in FIG. 1 has parts that are examples of
the elements recited in the claims. The apparatus thus includes
examples of how a person of ordinary skill in the art can make and
use the claimed invention. It is described here to meet the
requirements of enablement and best mode without imposing
limitations that are not recited in the claims.
[0014] The apparatus includes an electric artificial candle 10
configured to simulate a lit candle and be mounted in a candle
holder 12. The artificial candle 10 includes an elastically
flexible translucent flame piece 20 simulating a candle flame and a
base 22 simulating a wax candle. In the following description of
the candle, directional terms such as "upward" and "vertical" are
made only with respect to the orientations shown in the
figures.
[0015] As shown in FIG. 2, the base 22 includes a tube 24 and an
LED lamp 30 both centered on an axis A. The lamp 30 is housed in
and supported by a cup-shaped nub 32 at the top of a tubular post
34. The post 34 is diametrically smaller than the cup 32. It
extends downward from the cup 32, through a hole 40 in the top 42
of the tube 24, into rigid connection with a flicker circuit 44,
which is rigidly fixed to an inside surface 46 of the tube 24.
Electric wires 48 extend through the post 34 from the flicker
circuit 44 to the LED 30 to power the LED 30. The flicker circuit
44 modulates current supplied by batteries 50 in a random manor so
that light emitted by the LED 30 flickers. The lamp 30 is
positioned so as to direct its light upward and is encased by the
flame piece 20. The light illuminates the translucent flame piece
20 from within, so that the flame piece 20 glows.
[0016] The batteries 50 are stacked end-to-end within the tube 24.
They are inserted through an access opening 52 at the bottom 54 of
the tube 24. The access opening 52 is covered by a cap 56 with a
spring 57 that engages the lower battery 50 and an internal screw
thread 58 that mates with an external screw thread 59 of the tube
24. The cap 56 retains the batteries 50 in the tube 24. The cap 56
also serves as an on/off switch. To turn on the lamp 30, the cap 56
is turned clockwise until a metal plate 60 in the cap 56 abuts a
metal strip 62 mounted in the tube 24 to complete an electrical
circuit that powers the flicker circuit 44 to power the lamp 30. To
turn off the lamp 30, the cap 56 is turned counterclockwise to move
the plate 60 away from the strip 62 and break the circuit.
[0017] As shown in FIG. 3, the flame 20 has a bottom surface 70
with an opening 72. A bore 80 extends upward from the opening 72
and comprises cylindrical first, second and third sections 81, 82
and 83 and a conic fourth section 84. These bore sections 81-84 are
respectively defined by cylindrical first, second and third
surfaces 91, 92 and 93 and a conic surface 94. The second surface
92 is axially and diametrically about the same size as the cup 32.
The first and third surfaces 91 and 93 are diametrically about the
same size as the post 34. They are respectively separated from the
second surface 92 by opposing upper and lower annular shoulder
surfaces 95 and 96.
[0018] As indicated by arrow 97, the flame 20 can be mounted on the
base 22 by being pushed downward over the post 34. The first
surface 91 elastically stretches to receive the nub 32. The nub 32
is pushed through the first surface 91 and snaps into place in the
radially-enlarged second bore section 82 as shown in FIG. 4.
[0019] In FIG. 4, the shoulders 95 and 96 simultaneously engage and
releaseably capture the nub 32. The flame 20 is thus in a detent
position in that it requires greater force to move the flame 20 out
of this position than it takes to move the flame 20 into the
position. This detent position is tactile in that the force
difference can be felt by the user when pushing or pulling the
flame 20 across the detent position. In its detent position, the
flame piece 20 is spaced above the tube 24, similar to the manner
in which a real flame is spaced above a real candle.
[0020] The user can apply a small extra force required to lower the
flame 20 beyond the detent position to reduce the clearance between
the flame 20 and the tube 24. The flame 20 can even be pushed down
to where it contacts the tube 24 and the clearance is eliminated,
as in FIG. 5.
[0021] The user can also pull the flame piece 20 totally off the
tube 24 and replace it with another flame piece. For this purpose,
the artificial candle 10 can be sold with flame pieces differing in
size, shape and/or color, to be mounted interchangeably on the same
base 22. The base 22 and the different flame pieces would be
packaged in the same merchandise package for sale to a store
customer.
[0022] FIG. 6 shows a second flame piece 20' that is
interchangeable with the first flame piece 20 (FIG. 5). It has
sections corresponding to those of the first flame piece 20,
labeled with corresponding primed numerals. Like the first flame
piece 20, the second flame piece 20' has a lower cylindrical
surface 91' diametrically the same size as the post 34, and
configured to elastically stretch to receive the nub 32. The nub 32
can be pushed through the lower cylindrical surface 91 until it
snaps into a radially-enlarged bore section 82' defined by a
radially-enlarged cylindrical surface 92' that is diametrically the
same size as the nub 32. The user can push the flame 20' down to
any position within a range of positions, including down into
contact with the tube 24 as in FIG. 7.
[0023] Unlike the first flame piece 20, the second flame piece 20'
does not have an upper shoulder that abuts the nub 32 as the flame
20' is pushed down to the tube 24. Therefore, the user tactilely
senses the cup 32 entering the radially-enlarged bore section 82',
but does not tactilely sense a resistance against moving the flame
20' down beyond that.
[0024] This written description uses examples to disclose the
invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person
skilled in the art to make and use the invention. The patentable
scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include
other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other
examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they
have elements that do not differ from the literal language of the
claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with
insubstantial differences from the literal language of the
claims.
* * * * *